Northern Illinois' unprecedented inclusion in the Bowl Championship Series lineup isn't sitting well with ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. Northern Illinois (12-1) earned the Mid-American Conference 's first major bowl berth by meeting the requirements for a non-BCS league team: finishing in the top 16 and ahead of the champion of a BCS automatically-qualifying conference. They accomplished both in beating Kent State for the MAC championship, jumping from No. 21 to No. 15 in the final BCS standings.

BOYNTON BEACH - Marques Gayot had heard the rumors as early as last fall, months before Charlie Strong decided to leave Louisville and accept the head coaching job at Texas. So Gayot, who last April made a verbal commitment to Louisville, decided in mid-December that he would switch to Miami. Gayot made it official late Wednesday morning when the 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back signed with the Hurricanes in front of a throng of family, classmates and administration in Park Vista's auditorium.

MIAMI GARDENS — You know who, for much of Tuesday night, also looked like they wished Northern Illinois hadn't been sent to the Orange Bowl by some mystifying computer calculation? Florida State, that's who. It struggled mightily in the game it couldn't win even for winning. Not really. Not when 15th-ranked Northern Illinois, champion of the Mid-American Conference, caused a national referendum on the bowl system just by showing up. The voting broke down largely by geographical lines.

Boyd Anderson cornerback Derrick Tindal put on a Wisconsin cap to show off his college choice this morning at a signing ceremony at school. Teammate David Senior, a wide receiver, signed with Northern Illinois. Tindal said Wisconsin was a good fit for him and he liked the environment. “It's a great program with a winning tradition and coach [Gary] Andersen is a great coach,” Tindal said. The Badgers will use him at cornerback. “They want a lock-down corner who can stand up against any receiver and make tackles.

Here's what the college bowl system delivered for the state of Florida to enjoy, what it rewarded teams for their seasons with, what it offered local fans with the coming matchups. Nothing. That's what. Florida State plays Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl, instead of Louisville, as it should. Florida meets Louisville in the Sugar Bowl, instead of Oklahoma, as it should. Even the heavyweight matchup of the BCS Championship game, Alabama vs. Notre Dame, presents a moral rooting dilemma for South Florida fans.

Northern Illinois will be playing in the 2013 Orange Bowl, and there is an army of detractors up in arms because of it. Just who exactly do these Huskies think they are? The better question might be, "Why is everyone so angry about it?" NIU doesn't have a lot of football history. The Huskies' football tradition will never be confused with that of Clemson, Michigan or Oklahoma. Save for an undefeated 1963 season that resulted in a lower-division national championship, the school 65 miles outside of Chicago hasn't had much to tout.

ORANGE BOWL, NORTHERN ILLINOIS VS. FLORIDA STATE, 8:30 P.M. Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens TV: ESPN Online: OrlandoSentinel.com/sports, SunSentinel.com/sports, @os_coleyharvey, @sgorten Quick slant: Northern Illinois won 12 consecutive games to become the first Mid-American Conference team ever to receive a BCS berth, but has been criticized by many as undeserving. Florida State, making its ninth Orange Bowl appearance, third most by any team, aims to claim its first BCS bowl victory since the Sugar Bowl for the 1999 national title.

Coral Springs Taravella rising senior Cameron Smith holds offers from the Big Ten, Conference USA and the MAC. "Most of the schools want me for defensive end or outside linebacker, but some want me for tight end," Smith said Wednesday night. "Right now I'm 6-foot-3 and about 210 pounds. " Smith holds offers from Minnesota, Memphis and Northern Illinois. plammer@tribune.com; on twitter at PLamRecruiting or by phone at 954-661-9671.

Sunrise Piper 2012 linebacker-defensive end Barrington Morris has identified where three of his official visits will be to: Minnesota, Connecticut and Northern Illinois. Morris, who also holds offers from Kansas State, Illinois, Syracuse, New Mexico, Florida Atlantic and FIU, said Saturday at the Sun Sentinel Media Day for the top 50 senior prospects that Minnesota is his leader but noted, "I'm not close at all to making a decision. " He says the Gophers have talked to him about being a linebacker on first and second downs, and a defensive end on third down.

American Heritage cornerback Juwon Dowels has committed to Syracuse. Dowels, the former Northern Illinois commit, took an official visit to upstate New York over the weekend along with Hialeah quarterback Alin Edouard, who first tweeted Dowel's commitment. Dowels received plenty of late interest after having an outstanding 2013 season at Heritage. He had transfered to the state champions from Western over the summer. Dowels was the Sun Sentinel's defensive player, amassing nine interceptions. Dowels - the No. 12 player in the Sun Sentinel's Broward Class of 2014 ratings - chose Syracuse over offers from Oklahoma, Clemson and, of course, Northern Illinois.

Park Vista defensive back Renard Cheren had thought his recruitment was all but over, that is until Charlie Partirdge was named the new head coach at FAU. Cheren, who verbally committed to Northern Illinois back in September, had heard from Partridge when the coach was an assistant at Arkansas, and knew it wouldn't be long until the two spoke about FAU. Partridge reached out to Cheren to gage the prospect's interest in FAU, and the result...

DAVIE - The Miami Dolphins defense is apparently getting closer to being at full strength for Sunday's road game against the New England Patriots. Starting inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who sat out last Sunday's 23-21 loss to Buffalo Bills because of a shoulder injury he suffered on Oct. 6, practiced for the second straight day on Wednesday. The extent of Ellerbe's participation was likely limited, but considering the former Georgia standout sat out all of last week's practice, his participation hints he's getting closer to returning to the defense.

On Wednesday, Northern Illinois landed the commitment of American Heritage defensive back Juwan Dowels. Sunday, the Huskies added two more Broward county commitments. Cardinal Gibbons wide receiver Christian Blake and Boyd Anderson wide receiver David Senior both committed to Northern Illinois Sunday night, announcing their commitments over Twitter. Senior, a former Cardinal Gibbons player, is ranked No. 30 on the Sun Sentinel's Class of 2014 rankings. Blake is No. 56. "Great coaching staff," Senior said of his commitment.

American Heritage defensive back Juwan Dowels committed to Northern Illinois Wednesday. The former Western player, who transferred to the Plantation school over the summer, announced his commitment in a tweet. "Proud to say I committed to Northern Illinois University!!!" He announced. Dowels said Wednesday night in a text message that he chose Northern Illinois because of the great relationship he had with the coaching staff. He also said that the school provided the best opportunity for early playing time - his top factor in choosing a school.

MIAMI GARDENS — You know who, for much of Tuesday night, also looked like they wished Northern Illinois hadn't been sent to the Orange Bowl by some mystifying computer calculation? Florida State, that's who. It struggled mightily in the game it couldn't win even for winning. Not really. Not when 15th-ranked Northern Illinois, champion of the Mid-American Conference, caused a national referendum on the bowl system just by showing up. The voting broke down largely by geographical lines.